Lessons · Intellectual dimension
Everyday Maths for Real Life
Percentages, deals, VAT, splitting bills, currency, journeys, numbers in the news and quick estimates. 8 lessons, about 1.5 hours in all.
- 01Percentages Without a Calculator12 min Percentages are everywhere: discounts, tips, VAT, exam grades, phone battery, interest rates. If you can find 10 percent and 1 percent in…
- 02Shopping Maths: Deals, Unit Prices and Shrinkflation12 min Shops are designed to make prices feel simple and deals feel generous. A few quick calculations show you what you are really paying, so…
- 03VAT and Tax on a Receipt11 min Every receipt in the UAE includes VAT, and when you travel or study abroad you will meet very different tax rates. Knowing how to add tax,…
- 04Splitting Bills and Tipping Fairly10 min Few things test a friendship like a shared bill. A little maths, agreed calmly before the bill arrives, keeps things fair and keeps…
- 05Currency Conversion and Hidden Fees12 min Whether you are on holiday, studying abroad or buying online, currency conversion is where small, quiet fees add up. Understanding rates…
- 06Time, Speed, Distance and Running Costs11 min How long will it take, when should I leave, and what will it cost? The same three-part formula answers all of these, and it is useful…
- 07Reading Numbers in the News12 min News stories, adverts and social posts are full of averages, polls and huge numbers. A few questions help you see what a number really…
- 08Estimating and Sense-Checking10 min Most mistakes with numbers are not hard maths. They are a slipped decimal point or a mistyped digit. A quick estimate before you calculate…
Further reading
Books to take this module further. We have not been paid to include any of them. Under 18? Ask a parent or guardian before buying online.
- The Tiger That Isn't: Seeing Through a World of Numbers (Amazon, opens in a new tab) Michael Blastland and Andrew DilnotShows how to question the averages, risks and big numbers that appear in the news.
- How to Make the World Add Up (Amazon, opens in a new tab) Tim HarfordTen practical rules for thinking clearly about statistics and the numbers behind everyday claims.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links open a search on Amazon UK. The full reading list